Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA)

On December 4, 2018, the President signed into law the "Vessel Incidental Discharge Act" (VIDA) (Title IX of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard   Authorization Act of 2018). VIDA restructures the way the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) regulate incidental discharges, primarily from commercial vessels, into waters of the United States and the contiguous zone. Specifically, VIDA amends   Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 312 to include a new subsection (p) titled, “Uniform National Standards for Discharges Incidental to Normal   Operation of Vessels.”

 Subsection 312(p) requires the EPA to develop new national standards of performance for   commercial vessel discharges and the USCG to develop corresponding implementing   regulations. For more information on VIDA and its applicability click here.

 The following interim requirements apply until EPA publishes future standards and the USCG publishes corresponding implementing regulations (anticipated in 2022):

• For large, non-fishing commercial vessels: The existing vessel discharge requirements established through the EPA 2013 Vessel General Permit (VGP) and the USCG ballast  water regulations, and any applicable state and local government requirements.
• For small vessels and fishing vessels of any size: The existing ballast water discharge requirements established through the EPA 2013 VGP and the USCG ballast water regulations, and any applicable state and local government requirements.  

 For more information on the interim requirements, click on the links below:

• EPA 2013 VGP
• USCG Ballast Water Regulations

 For more information on the regulatory process and future requirements of VIDA, click on the links below:

• VIDA Overview

For information on the regulation and control of vessel sewage under CWA Section 312, visit EPA's Vessel Sewage Discharges page.